Egypt interim president approves contentious new protests law

Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour has approved a controversial law regulating demonstrations.

"The president enacted the law on the regulation of the right to hold public meetings, processions and peaceful demonstrations in public places," presidency spokesman Ehab Badawi said.

Egyptian prime minister Hazem Beblawi said the new law protects the rights of protesters.

"It is not a law that limits the right to demonstrate, but it aims at protecting the right of protesters," he said.

Mr Beblawi also said the law does not stipulate that protesters need permission before staging demonstrations, but they must give advance "notice".

A government source who asked not to be identified said that changes had been made to an earlier draft bill that was strongly criticised by Egyptian rights groups.

"It allows (protest) organisers to inform the authorities three days before the event, rather than the earlier seven days," the source said.

Presidency spokesman Ehab Badawi said protesters must give "three day written notice" to a police station near to where the demonstration is to be held.Mr Badawi said it also bans demonstrations "at places of worship" or starting from such places.

The advance notice would need to include details about the organisers of the demonstration, its purpose and what slogans will be chanted, he added.

Mr Badawi said the authorities have the right to prohibit a demonstration "if it is felt to be a threat to national security."

But he said security forces must first verbally warn protesters at prohibited demonstrations to disperse before using water cannon or tear gas, and should only gradually escalate to the firing of birdshot if other means fail.

Egyptian rights groups had earlier slammed the draft prepared by the justice ministry last month.

"The draft law seeks to criminalise all forms of peaceful assembly, including demonstrations and public meetings, and gives the state free hand to disperse peaceful gatherings by use of force," a group of

19 groups said in a joint statement on Sunday before the law was given the green light.

Egypt's new military-installed authorities are engaged in a sweeping crackdown on Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, who regularly stage protests demanding his reinstatement.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes during protests held by Morsi supporters.